Six Flags Over Texas confirms that a woman was killed while riding The Texas Giant roller coaster

The family of the woman who fell to her death Friday night has identified her as Rosy Esparza of Dallas.

Update at 12:12 p.m.:

It doesn’t sound like Six Flags officials will be commenting soon on the cause of Friday night’s fatal accident on the Texas Giant. Below is their latest statement:

We are committed to determining the cause of this tragic accident and will utilize every resource throughout this process. It would be a disservice to the family to speculate regarding what transpired. When we have new information to provide, we will do so. Our thoughts, prayers and full support remain with the family.

It’s not known how long their internal investigation might take or what other external investigations there might be. An initial police report (death investigation) likely won’t be available until Monday.

Update at 11:15 a.m.:

Six Flags sent another short statement early this morning. Here’s the text:

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. The investigation into the death at Texas Giant is still ongoing. We are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the accident. The ride will remain closed. In addition, we have canceled the concert that was scheduled for today.

I have a clarification and some additions from the park. The statement said they are working with “authorities,” but this is actually an internal investigation.

No other attractions at the park are closed due to the accident, other than the Texas Giant.

The story on our website also mentioned that the Saturday night concert by singer and actress Bridgit Mendler has been cancelled. Also, the KIDZ Star USA talent search auditions on Saturday and Sunday at Six Flags have also been cancelled.

Also, Six Flags is not planning a press conference today. It’s not clear how much additional information will be released Saturday.

Jeff Mosier

Tom Fox/Staff Photo

Fire officials were at Six Flags Over Texas on Friday after a woman was killed on the Texas Giant roller coaster (in background).

Update at 9:10 p.m.: Our Tanya Eiserer spoke with Carmen Brown of Arlington, who says she was next in line to ride the Texas Giant behind the woman who fell to her death this evening. She told Tanya she witnessed the woman being strapped into the ride. She was sitting next to her son.

The woman, said Brown, “basically tumbled over and you just see her son [go], ‘Ahhh.’ They didn’t secure her right. One of the employes from the park — one of the ladies — she asked her to click her more than once, and they were like, ‘As long you heard it click, You’re OK.’ Everybody else is like, ‘Click, click, click.’ Hers only clicked once. Hers was the only one that went down once, and she didn’t feel safe, but they let her still get on the ride. …

“That could have been me.”

Brown said the woman’s young son was in a seat in front of his mother.

“We heard her screaming,” Brown said. “We were like, ‘Did she just fall?’”

Update at 8:05 p.m.: Six Flags Over Texas spokesperson Sharon Parker just sent a statement that says in full:

We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant. Park medical staff and local paramedics responded immediately. Since the safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority, the ride has been closed pending further investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time.

The incident occurred shortly after 6:30 Friday evening. Witnesses, like the one below, say the restraints came undone, and the woman simply vanished off the towering ride. Others say people on the ground directed rescue workers to her location.

On Facebook, a woman who said she was next in line to ride the Texas Giant wrote that “the lady whose seat I was about to get into on the Giant wasn’t there when the red train came back!! Seriously! People in front row screaming when they came back that their mom was gone. We waited about 50 mins & now kids are freaking out.”

Original item at 7:57 p.m.: There have been multiple reports via Twitter this evening of a death at Six Flags Over Texas. Several have said someone fell off the Texas Giant roller coaster. One source says a woman fell from the ride.

But Arlington police want to be clear: They are not confirming anything until they meet with Six Flags officials. That meeting is taking place at this very moment concerning what officials are calling “a major incident.”

Our Tanya Eiserer and Tom Fox are on their way. Arlington PD and Six Flags officials have set up a media staging area.

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